
Leer/Houston, September 25, 2024 – The MV BBC HOUSTON, the second in a series of fifteen 13,000 DWT “LakerMax” multipurpose triple deckers, was officially christened in a festive ceremony at the Port of Houston on Monday. This marks a significant milestone for the vessel and its operator, BBC Chartering.
The christening, a time-honored maritime tradition, went off without a hitch as the champagne bottle broke on the first swing. Daniela Pena Kopfensteiner, the vessel’s godmother, delivered the traditional blessing, wishing the ship “fair winds and following seas” at the Manchester Terminal. The event was attended by clients, business partners, and colleagues from BBC Chartering, bringing a sense of community and celebration to the port.
Before this notable ceremony, the BBC HOUSTON had just completed its maiden voyage from China to New Orleans, Louisiana, carrying a substantial load of air coolers and accessories. Following this, the vessel made several stops at different berths within Houston to load additional cargo before arriving at the Manchester Terminal for the christening event. Immediately after the celebrations, the BBC HOUSTON set sail for her next voyage, heading to Kolkata, India, demonstrating that this vessel is already hard at work on its global mission.
Tim Kopfensteiner, President and CEO of Houston-based BBC Chartering USA LLC, expressed his excitement about the event, stating, “Naming the BBC HOUSTON in her namesake port after completion of her maiden voyage felt like more than the right thing to do. It was a real pleasure to finally see this ground-breaking vessel for ourselves, and being able to show it to our customer friends and partners made us really proud.”
Daniela Pena Kopfensteiner, who works as a chartering broker for BBC Chartering USA and served as the vessel’s godmother, shared her thoughts on the occasion: “It was an honor to be a part of this celebration, and I hope she will serve and protect her crew for many years to come.”
The BBC HOUSTON is designed as a multipurpose triple-decker, boasting an impressive lifting capacity of up to 500 metric tons. Its unique layout features an optimized deck design with the bridge and accommodations positioned forward, allowing for an uninterrupted 2,830 square meters of space on the weather deck. Inside, the vessel offers an extensive 26,000 cubic meters of cargo volume and 5,500 square meters of covered floor space, making it a true “space miracle” in the maritime world.
What sets the BBC HOUSTON apart is its fuel efficiency, which is notably lower than that of similar-sized vessels, leading to a remarkable reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per freight carried by up to 30%. This reflects a growing trend in the maritime industry to adopt more sustainable practices, and the BBC HOUSTON is a shining example of how innovation can go hand in hand with environmental responsibility.
As the vessel embarks on her next journey to Kolkata, India, the maritime community will undoubtedly be keeping an eye on the BBC HOUSTON’s progress, eagerly watching as she continues to navigate global waters and solidify her role as a leader in the multipurpose shipping sector.